Rubber sealed fastener



Sept. 6, 1932. s. H. NORTON RUBBER SEALED FASTENER Filed Nov. 22. 1929 1 INVENTOR. SanmelENorfi'rv,

A TTORN proved. fastening means to. an-article.

Patented Sept. 6, 1932 gum'rao STATES PATENT 1 OFFICE SAMUEL n. non'ron, or MEADVILLE, rnnNsYLvAnm, ASSIGNOR ro EooxLEss rasrnm oonrm, A conrona'rron orv rmmsrnvnnm Y RUBBER SEALED FASTENEB Application filed November 22, 1929. Serial No. 409,014.

My invention relates to fastening devices and particularly to means for covering and sealing a fastening device of the type having multiple fastener elements attached to flexible stringers.

One of the objects provide an improved fastening device of this type having means for covering at least one side of the fastener elements.

Another objectis to provide an improved fastener of the above type havingimproved means for sealing the fastener when closed.

Still another object is to provide improved sealing and covering means for a slide fastener attached directly to the fastener stringers so as to leave portions of the stringers projecting beyond the covering means for connecting the fastener to an article to be fastened. A further object is to provide a bag such as a dustreceptacle for vacuum sweepers with improved fastening means for closing the slit in the bag which has means for sealing the fastener.

A more specific object is to providean improved slide fastener having. strips of rubber or similar material attached directly to the fabric stringers of the fastener and overlying the fastener elements.

Other objects and advantages of myinventionwill more fully appear during the course of the following specification. v

In the accompanying drawing I have:

shown for purposes of illustration three embodiments which my invention may assume in practice. In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective viewillustrating a portion of a vacuum sweeper in which the: astening means of my invention may be incor orated.

ig. 2 is a face view of a portion of the vacuum sweeper bag illustrating the fastening device on .an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on line i 5 3-4 of Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of aportion of the fastener covering means of my 'mvention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the method of attaching my im of my invention is to the adjacent edges Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view simi-' lar to Fig. 3 showing a modified form 'of my invention.

Fig. 7 is a similar sectional view illustrating a still further modification.

The vacuum sweeper illustrated in Fig. 1 is of a familiar type having a motor and fan portion 8, a handle9 and a dust receiving bag 10. Such bags must be provided with an opening for removal of the dust from the bag and the fastening means of my invention may be utilized to close such opening.

A slide fastener is preferably employed, the one illustrated being of the same eneral type as disclosed in the patent of ideon Sundback No. 1,219,881, March 20, 1917. The fastener illustrated comprises a pair of flexible stringers in the form of fabric tapes 12 and'13 which are attached to the opposite edges of an opening to be closed. In the pres.- ent instance each of the tapes is attached to the material 14 of the vacuumsweeper bag indicated in Fig. 5. To I of these stringers are attached rows of cooperating fastener elements 16 in a manner well known in the art. It will be noted that there is a slight space between the end of each of the fastener elements and the corded edge of the tape so that the opening is not completely sealed, one ofthese spaces being designated 17 in the drawing.

by stitching 15 as The fastener elements are opened and closed by means of a slider 18 operated bya pull 19 along the fastener elements. 4

The fastener covering means of my invention as applied to a vacuum cleaner, functions mainly to seal completely the opening but it will be understood that in other ap-. plications there will be other advantages derived. such as improving the appearance of" the article. In .the illustrated embodiment my improved fastener covering means. comprises a pair of covering strips 20 and 21 which are integrally united at the lower end by the portion 22 and may, if desired, be (1 also at the upper end. These covering her having suitable characteristics for the purpose and the recesses 23 and 24 are formed in the molding operation, which recesses pro vide a suitable space for the fastener elements and for the travel of the slider .18. A pair of flexible flaps and 26 extend along the meeting edges of the covering strips and it will be readily seen that these flaps provide a very eflicient sealing means especially when pressure is built up on their opposite faces as in a vacuum cleaner bag. It will, of course, be understood that these flaps may be dispensed with where an extremely eflicient sealing means is not desired. The covering strips as stated before, are preferably made from molded rubber which can be secured to the fabric tapes at points spaced.

from the other edges of the same by a suitable rubber cement or a vulcanizing operation. By attaching the strips so as to allow the tape to. extend beyond them and having the covering means wholly carried by the stringers, a unitary fastening device is obtained which may be attached directly to any article to be fastened.

Instead of cementing or vulcanizing the covering strips to the fastener stringers they may be provided with extensions 27 and 28 whichare secured to the stringers by stitching 29. This method of attaching the covering strips will be particularly desirable where the strips are formed out'of some mate rial other than rubber, such as leather or the like.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 7 instead of the flaps 25 and 26-the meeting edges are provided with beaded portions 30 v. and 31 which have cooperating rounded surfaces meeting in a line contact. This construction may be especially desirable in applications other than the vacuum sweeper bag, such as rubber overshoes where it is desired to keep water from going through the fastener.

In operation, with the forms illustrated into the interior of the bag. In the form illustrated in Fig. 7, the resilient action of the covering strips will hold the roundedportions 30 and 31 in contact and thus provide a seal for the fastener independent of whether or not pressure is built up on. its outside-surfaces.

As a result of my invention it will be seen that a unitary fastening device has been provided ha g improved means for covering the fastener elements without hindering in any way the ability of the fastener to beator vulcanizing, or if desired, the strips may be sewed to the stringers as in one modification described above.

While I have in this application specifically described three embodiments which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that these embodiments are merely for the purposes of illustration and description and that various other forms may be devised within the scope of my invention as defined in the appended-claims.

What I claim as my inventions is:

1. The combination with a fastening device of the type having a pair of flexible stringers and cooperating fastening means on the adjacent edges of said stringers, of covering strips wholly carried by said stringers and permanently connected thereto at polnts spaced from the outer edges of said stringers, said covering strips having portions overlying said fastening means, said fastening constitutlng a separate and distinct unit adapted to be connected to the separable edges of an article to be fastened.

2. The combination with a fastening device of the type havin a pair of flexible stringers and cooperatin astener elements on the adjacent edges 0 said stringers, of a pair of covering strips extending along the adjacent edges of said stringers and permanently connected thereto adjacent the fastener elements so as to leave a portion of each stringer proment to an article to be fastened, said covering strips overlying said fastener elements and contacting with each other to provide a complete covering for said elements, said fastening device and attached'covering strips constltuting a separate and distinct unit adapted to .be connected to the separable edges of an article to be fastened. v

3. The combination with a fastening device of the type having a pair of flexible stringers and rowsof fastener elements secured to the adj acentec' ges of the said string- I ers, of covering strips a tached-to said stringers along their adjacent edges and spaced from the outer edges of the stringers so as to leave portions of the stringers for connecdevice and attached covering strips 'jecting beyond the covering strips for attachtion to an article to be fastened independently of said strips, said strips having portions overlying said fastener elements and meeting each other along the longitudinal center line of the fastening device, said fastening device tinct unit adapted mounted thereon,

and attached covering strips constituting a, separate and distinct unit adapted to be connected to the separable edges of an'article to be fastened.

4. The combination with a fastening device of the type having a pair of flexible stringers and cooperating fastener elements secured to the adjacent edges of said stringers, of means for sealing said fastening device to prevent water and air from passing therethrough comprising a pair of covering strips made 0 flexible material and wholly carried by said stringers adjacent said fastener elements and overlying said elements, said covering strips being in contact with each 0 er when the fastener is closed and being formed to provide a substantially leak-proof joint, said fastening device and. attached covering strips constituting a separate and distinct unit' adapted to be connected to the separable edges of an article to befastened.

5. The combination with a fastening device of the type having a pair of flexible stringers and cooperating fastener elements secure ,to the adjacent edges of said fastener stringers, of a pair of covering strips securedto said stringers and spaced from the outer edges thereof to leave portions of the-stringers for connection to an article to be fastened, said strips having free portions overlying the fastener elements, and a pair of flexible flaps carried by the adjacent edges of such portions adapted .to lie against each other and provide a substantially leak-proof joint between them.

6. A unitary fastening device for attachment to the edges of an open'ng comprising a pair of fabric stringers, rows of cooperating fastener elements on the adjacent edges 40 of said stringers, a slider movable along said elements to engage and disengage the same, and covering means mounted on one side of said stringers comprising strips of flexible material secured directly to and wholly carried by said fabric stringers and having portions overlying the fastener elements, sai flexible strips being integrally united at one end, said fastening device and attached covering: strips constituting a separate and disto be connected to the separable edges of an article to be fastened. 7 A unitary fastening device adapted for attachment to the edges of an opening to be fastened comprisinga pair of flexible stringers each having a row of fastener elements and rubber covering strips d the fastener elements but spaced ed to be connected as a unit to the separable edges of an article to be fastened.

8. A unitary fastening device adapted v be secured to the edges of an opening to be fastened comprising a pair of'fabric-stringers having rows of cooperating fastener elements on their adjacent edges, and means carried by the stringers for covering one side of said fastener elements and substantially sealclosed, comprisin'ga ing the fastener when f pair of rubber strips vulcanized to the fabric stringers along their adjacent edges and spaced from the "outer edges of the stringers, said rubber strips overlying the fastener elements and meetin each other along the longitudinal center line ofthe fastener.

9. The combination with a fastening device of the type having a pair of fabric stringers,

rows of cooperating fastener adjacent edges and a slider-movable along said elements to control the same' and rubber having one longitudinal covering strips each edge secured to said fabric stringers outside from the the stringers, said strips having their ends adapted to overlie the fastenemelements and meeting each other along the lngitudinal center line of the fastener, the adjacent portions 'of said strips being recessed to provide space to allow theslider to operate between the fastener elements and said strips.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

SAMUEL H. NORTON.

outer edges of elements at their secured tothe fabric stringers adjacent said v 4 vfastener elements butspaced from the outer 65 vice and attached covering strips bein'g adaptto leave portions for 1 said fastening de- 

